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We continue on Estudio Billboard with the company of Juan Luis Guerra. Juan Luis...several years ago, you turned to Christianity. Why? What happened? I can imagine that you... as many of us...were Catholic. Right?

Yes. I was born in a Catholic home and...

You went to mass... everything...

Kind of. No, I didn't go very often. My conversion to Christianity was due to a lack of faith. Excuse me...to a lack of peace. In the '90s, in about '92, the band climbed up the ladder of popular music. The huge amount of work we had, the tours...took away my peace. They took my peace away. I became very anxious. I needed to take anti-anxiety medication... sleeping pills... It became hard for me to continue with this career. To learn more about that... All you have to do is turn the television on and see the sad things artists go through. Most artists go through unpleasant times because they don't have anybody to share their anxiety and problems with.

Even if you are part of a band and they are with you?

It doesn't matter. You can be number one in the industry, and if you don't have anybody to share your problems with, you are going to live with anxiety. One day, some people came to me, and they preached about the peace given by God... the peace given by Jesus. They preached about God's goodness and how he could transform my life. I told them, "Ok. If that's true... I have nothing to lose." That is what happened to me. I had a problem, and the Lord was going to help me.

And, He did it.

No...he did even more. I thought it was just one problem, but he took away all of the problems that I had at that moment. Later, he gave me the tools to move on.

How did it affect your music and career?

Well...the Word says that He comes to give us life, and it is life in abundance. I would say that it made me a better musician, poet, father, and husband.

A few years ago, you also released your first entirely Christian album.

Yes.

The merengue song "Las Avispas" was included on it. You already sang a little of that song for us. I think one of the most amazing things about that song is that, people remember it because it has a Christian theme. If you would like to, you can tell us some of the lyrics later on. It was a hit.

Yes. We were doing some biblical studies with our pastor at the church. That day, they were talking about Exodus and Deuteronomy. I remember that one of the biblical verses talked about how the Lord used to send wasps into his town so that they took care of things. I thought, "How could the Lord send wasps into his town? That sounds to me like a merengue." [laughing] So...what I did was to adapt the wasps to today. That is what the song talks about... "I have an admirable God in heaven... and the love of his Holy Spirit, his grace..." It really is a testimonial of my conversion. In the end, it has the chorus that says, "Jesus told me."

Jesús me dijo que me riera si el enemigo me tienta en la carrera, también me dijo: no te mortifiques que yo le envío mis avispas pa' que lo piquen, es verdad.

[clapping]

Juan Luis, I think that when people first listen to a song like that one, they aren't touched by the lyrics. Later, they pay more attention to the lyrics.

The thing is that sometimes people misunderstand it. I am sending the wasps towards the enemy of the human beings. But, when people see me on the street... They tell me, "Look... Send the wasps after this guy who is..." In fact, the wasps are not sent after people. They are intended for the enemy who comes to bother us.

You also have songs that were written before your conversion, such as "Ojalá que Llueva Café." It is kind of like an anthem, and it is very spiritual.

"Ojalá que Llueva Café"... I wanted to do some research on different parts of the Dominican Republic. I went to Santiago de los Caballeros with a historical researcher who is a friend of mine, and he taught me some lyrics to some songs. Among them was a poem from the countryside that talked about a rain of coffee. I loved that metaphor. I went home... got the guitar... and composed "Ojalá que Llueva Café." I would say it's one of the most famous songs from that group.

Are you going to play a little something from "Ojalá que Llueva Café" for us?

Let's play a little.

Ojalá que llueva café en el campo, que caiga un aguacero de yuca y té, del cielo una jarina de queso blanco y al sur una montaña de berro y miel. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Ojalá que llueva café.

Ojalá que llueva café en el campo, peinar un alto cerro e' trigo y mapuey, bajar por la colina de arroz graneado y continua' el arado con tu querer. Y digo oh, oh, oh, oh, que ojalá el otoño en vez de hojas secas vista mi cosecha de pitisalé, sembra' una llanura de batata y fresas y ojalá que llueva café.

Pa' que en el conuco no se sufra tanto. The chorus! (everybody) Ojalá que llueva café en el campo (Juan Luis) pa' que en los montones oigan este canto. Ready? (everybody) Ojalá que llueva café en el campo. (Juan Luis) Ay, ojalá que llueva, ojalá que llueva, ay hombe, ay hombe, ay hombe. (everybody) Ojalá que llueva café en el campo. (Juan Luis) Y ojalá que llueva café.

[clapping]

Thanks! What many people don't know about you is that besides composing and singing your songs, you also do all of the arrangements. It's the same kind of challenge, right? Taking those songs and putting a merengue or bachata arrangement to them... to make them work as well as they would work in an acoustic version.

Yes. I would say they are "extra" melodies. When I write a song, I can almost feel the arrangement. Sometimes the arrangement even comes before the lyrics. That's how some songs are born.

Is it the same with the percussion instruments? Do you also arrange the percussion?

We don't arrange the percussion. We do it for some tracks... There are some specific tracks. But normally, arrangements are not written for güira or tambora.

What about the wind instruments?

You have to write everything for the wind instruments.

Do you do all of that?

Exactly.

When you go into the studio you have everything perfectly arranged.

Well... What can I say? We don't always have to do it that way because computers exist... the Pro Tools... For example... I recorded this CD... I called Yanina, my piano player, and I told her, "Yanis, I'm on my way to your house." I showed her "La Travesía" and told her, "Look, I have this idea."

[humming]

I started playing it, and the music was almost completely written. So, when you walk into the studio, you have a complete idea of how the merengue is going to sound. It was different before. I tried very hard to do a great job. When I walked into the studio there were things I liked, and others that I didn't. That is why making the songs took much more time.

You have played with the same group for how many years?

Well... Some of the people... Roger must have been there for 23 years, Chocolate for 21, Yanina for 18, and Adalgisa for 18 or 17.

In recent years you have done a lot of duets... with Maná, Diego Torres...

Yes.

On this album there are also duets. Lately, everyone wants to sing with Juan Luis Guerra. Who would you like to sing with that hasn't happened yet?

In Spanish, I would like to sing with Juanes and Alejandro.

I believe that Juanes also wants to sing with you.

Yes, yes. We are working on that. I think it would turn out really well.

Me, too.

...With Carlos Vives, too. We have been talking about it, but we still haven't had a chance to do anything. I know it is only a matter of time. In English, I always say that my dream is to make a bachata song with Paul McCartney.

Oh...! And, why not? Have you talked about it?

No, I haven't talked about it. If it ever happens, it will have to be put together really well because I am such a fan of him and The Beatles...

Well... We'll see if it happens. We'll be back with more Estudio Billboard and Juan Luis Guerra.

[clapping]

I see songs as the reflection of a stage in life. They are born one moment... They make their way to the audience. They help people live their own lives.

[clapping]

We continue talking with Juan Luis Guerra about his life and music. The time has come for me to put you up against the wall... even more than I already have today. Don't get stressed out. This is what we call the Billboard Top 20. I ask a question, and you answer quickly... No thinking. Are you ready?

Yes.

Ok. What poster did you have in your room when you were a teenager?

The Beatles.

Wilma or Betty?

Wilma.

Marilyn Monroe or Sofía Loren?

Marilyn.

What do you keep in the drawer of your nightstand?

A Bible.

What is the strangest rumor you have heard about yourself?

I pass.

You pass. Ok. The sexiest woman from music?

From music? The sexiest woman from music is my wife.

Oh! Wonderful. What is the biggest lie you have ever told in an interview?

A lie? You are not going to believe this, but I am really not used to lying.

No, I believe you.

No, no.

Ok. Describe your perfect night.

My perfect night? On my balcony at home... with my wife and a full moon.

Two records you would take to a desert island.

Two records?

Two.

Abbey Road by The Beatles, and Beethoven's seventh symphony.

What song makes you cry?

"The Long and Winding Road" by The Beatles.

What do you spend your money on?

Records... CDs.

What would you give Juanes as a present?

Juanes? A guitar.

And Laura Pausini?

I would give Laura something Dominican... Some amber.

And Maná?

Maná? A good bongó.

[laughing]

So that they will play some bachata.

Do you sleep with or without pajamas? I hope your wife doesn't yell at me.

With pajamas.

What is it that men will never understand about women?

About women? Why they take so long to get ready before going out.

Good answer!

That's something I have never been able to explain myself. Why is that?

...So that we look pretty for you.

Women always look pretty.

Your worst fault?

You know? There is one I realized a while ago. It is that I try to please everyone. You can't please everyone. There will always be people who like you... others just won't.

I agree. I like that. Your best virtue?

I would say my... Only one, right? It has to be that I don't tell lies.

Ok. Your most treasured possession?

My most treasured possession is my family.

What are you afraid of?

Nothing. In simple terms, after having known the fear of God, which is the same than respecting God... I'm not afraid of anything.

Wonderful. Something you can't stand in a person?

Lying.

What do you do right before going on stage?

Pray.

Any good luck charms?

No, I don't have any. But, for example, this is... What do people call these? This has a name...

Yes... bracelets...

It's a bracelet that reminds me of a phrase in the Bible that says: "No weapon brought against you will prosper." It is not a good luck charm. I just use it as a memory of the pact that I have with God.

Finally, your favorite vice?

My wife.

Ha, ha, ha. Your wife is very lucky! Listen, Juan Luis... We are coming closer to the end of the show. I don't want it to end without you telling us something about your foundation. Last year on Billboard, we gave you the "Espíritu de la Esperanza" award for the work that you do. Many people might not know about your foundation and what it does. Can you tell us about it?

The foundation started about 17 years ago. We started in Santo Domingo, and we still are in Santo Domingo. In the beginning, we worked on medical and ophthalmological needs. We also helped with sports in the Dominican Republic. Later on, we changed our focus, and we decided on helping children only... children's healthcare in the Dominican Republic.

It focuses on your country.

...On Santo Domingo, specifically. I would love to provide medical help in other countries. I have envisioned that... Even if we don't have a Juan Luis Guerra Foundation in those places... I would like to go to Guatemala, Perú or Ecuador and work with doctors from those places.

You mentioned before that you need to have objectives. The objective with this record was to take your music to places where it had never been. Is that your objective now or do you have another objective for the next two years?

That is the objective that I have now because I believe that France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Israel, the Arab countries...

Weren't you in France and Germany recently?

We were in France. God willing, next year we are going to be in Germany... and Japan for sure. The Japanese have salsa orchestras... very good ones, by the way.

Do you remember Orquesta de La Luz?

A very good one. I mean... They have been able to incorporate salsa, so I guarantee you that they are going to incorporate merengue and bachata.

Have you been to Japan yet? Is that still a plan... a project?

I haven't. But... be sure that I will eat sushi.

Ok. During the Top 20, I asked you about the strangest rumor you have heard about yourself. Can I tell you a rumor that I have heard for many years?

Tell me what it is.

You used to wear a hat because you were completely bald.

Well... You see... That is a rumor.

I'm not going to convince you to take your hat off... Am I?

I have already taken it off.

Today?

No. I have my...

This is for you to see that this is a rumor. It is not true.

[laughing]

Why do you wear a hat all of the time?

My wife told me that I look much better with the hat on... And when I have "occupational hazards"... as we call it...

What kind of hazards?

...As an artist.

Ok.

That I should wear my hat... and that is what I do. Every time I perform, I wear my hat.

What are your musical plans for the near future?

While we are on a tour, our plan is basically to promote our songs. We are going to start the "La Travesía" tour in March. We are going to be in The United States. The important thing is for people to know the songs before we get there on the tour.

Finally, Juan Luis... I know that all songs are like children to an artist. I know you love all of them. But...There has to be a song of special importance for you... or particularly...

From this CD?

From this CD, and in general... from your entire career.

From this CD, there is a very important and special song for me called "Si Tú no Bailas Conmigo."

You wrote it for your wife.

Exactly. From the other CDs... well... "Cuando Te Beso" is a very special song, too.

Why?

For the same reason. It is a song for my wife, and it is the story of a kiss. Many other songs, too... such as "Burbujas de Amor." This is a favorite of many people. Or... I see songs as the reflection of a stage in life. They are born one moment... They make their way to the audience. They help people live their own lives.

Well... Thanks a lot, Juan Luis... for sharing your life, your thinking process, and your music with us.

Sure. My pleasure.

Thanks to all of you for being here with us... and to you. I hope you have enjoyed this interview as much as I did. I hope you tune in again very soon... here on Estudio Billboard!

THE END

Juan Luis Guerra in Estudio Billboard [1] [2]